Nordstrom Rack Announces 3 Canadian Fall Store Opening Dates

South Edmonton Common Nordstrom Rack. Photo: Nordstrom/Cameron Developments

By Craig Patterson

Nordstrom has announced the opening dates of its next three Canadian off-price Nordstrom Rack stores, as it continues with a national expansion that could see as many as 15 locations over the next several years. Nordstrom Rack’s first three Canadian stores are now open at Vaughan Mills in suburban Toronto, at Deerfoot Meadows in Calgary, and at 1 Bloor Street East in downtown Toronto, which is considered to be the company’s Canadian flagship. 

The next three Nordstrom Rack stores confirmed to be opening in Canada are in Ontario and Alberta. 

On September 6, 2018, Nordstrom Rack will open at Heartland Town Centre in Mississauga, just west of Toronto. The store will span about 35,000 square feet in a massive big-box centre that includes anchors such as Walmart, Costco, Canadian Tire, Home Depot and grocery store Seafood City, which also houses a new location for Filipino restaurant chain Jollibee. Heartland Town Centre will become the third Nordstrom Rack location in the Greater Toronto Area, which means half of the six confirmed Nordstrom Rack stores in Canada will be located in the area. 

On October 11, 2018, Nordstrom Rack will open at The Ottawa Train Yards in Ottawa. The 750,000 square foot power centre spans 110 acres of property which, when viewed on a map, is shown to be remarkably close to Ottawa’s urban core. Other anchors include Walmart, Golf Town, SAIL, DSW Shoes and a unit for the wildly popular Ottawa-based grocery chain Farm Boy. Nordstrom Rack will occupy about 35,000 square feet over one level at Ottawa Train Yards. 

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Vaughan Mills Store. Photo: Nordstrom 

On October 25, 2018, Nordstrom Rack will open its Edmonton location at South Edmonton Common in Edmonton, which will become the second Nordstrom Rack location in Alberta. South Edmonton Common, which is considered to be Canada’s largest retail power centre, boasts an impressive roster of anchors such as Ikea, Canada’s largest Canadian Tire, and Canada’s first location for ‘The Rec Room’. We recently profiled the centre in Retail Insider and developer Cameron Developments is celebrating 20 years of operations this month as well. Nordstrom Rack’s Edmonton store, as well as the other two discussed above, will span approximately 35,000 square feet over one level. 

Canada’s Nordstrom Rack stores feature fashions, accessories and shoes with savings of up to 70% off regular prices. Merchandise includes a mix of product from full-line Nordstrom stores, as well as some items specifically purchased from top brands sold at Nordstrom. 

Nordstrom has said that it plans to operate between 10 and 15 Nordstrom Rack stores in Canada, addressing a market that was arguably under-served. At the same time, TJX Canada’s off-price concepts Winners and Marshalls continue to open stores at a rapid pace Canada-wide, not to mention its off-price home concept, HomeSense. The Hudson’s Bay Company’s off-price Saks OFF 5TH concept is also expanding, with plans to operate approximately 25 stores across Canada by the end of this year. 

Brokerage Northwest Atlantic represents Nordstrom and Nordstrom Rack for its Canadian site selections, and big news this week as it’s been announced that Chicago-based Jones Lang Lasalle (JLL) has acquired Toronto-based Northwest Atlantic. 

Inside the Vaughan Mills Store. Photo: Nordstrom

Nordstrom also operates six full-line stores in Canada and there are currently no plans for more, according to the retailer. Nordstrom opened its first Canadian store at Calgary’s CF Chinook Centre in September of 2014, followed by locations at Ottawa’s CF Rideau Centre in March of 2015, at CF Pacific Centre in Vancouver in September of 2015, and two Toronto stores in the fall of 2016 — at CF Toronto Eaton Centre, and at Yorkdale Shopping Centre. Nordstrom opened its sixth Canadian store at Toronto’s CF Sherway Gardens, in September of 2017.

Nordstrom’s ‘Anniversary Sale’ continues from now until August 6 at its full-line stores. It’s Nordstrom’s ‘biggest and best’ sale of the year and this year’s event had a unique marketing twist. Four fashion-savvy comedians were brought in to help promote the sale across various media channels including actress Liza Koshy (Double Dare host and star of Liza on Demand); Daniel Levy, writer, producer and Schitt’s Creek actor; Phoebe Robinson, comedian and NY Times bestselling author; and New Girl actress Hannah Simone. The campaign was shot by Mary Ellen Matthews (best known for her portraits of celebrity guests and the cast of Saturday Night Live) and the comedians also filmed short videos promoting the retailer’s “Show Us How You #NSALE” sweepstakes, where customers can submit an Anniversary Sale photo or video via social media or online to express their enthusiasm for the sale and win a $500 Nordstrom Gift Card. The Anniversary Sale originated in the 1960s and is the company’s biggest event of the year. This event offers brand-new arrivals at sale prices for a limited time – then prices go back up after two weeks.

Craig Patterson, now based in Toronto, is the founder and Editor-in-Chief Retail Insider. He's also a retail and real estate consultant, retail tour guide and public speaker. 

Follow him on Twitter @RetailInsider_, LinkedIn at Craig Patterson, or email him at: craig@retail-insider.com.

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